some argue the country won't be badly damaged if the country hits the fiscal cliff. republicans and democrats keep arguing into the new year. others are worried failure to strike a deal could send the nation back into a recession. >> i think people understand the failure to compromise and going over the cliff could really jeopardize this recovery. the good news today about more people back at work, the unemployment rate coming down, listen, that can be reversed if people lose confidence in our future. >> the number two senate ranked democrat mr. temperature bib argues next week will be critical in terms of president obama and speaker boehner finding a compromise. shep? >> shepard: democrats are still saying what they have said all along and what the president ran on this is about taxes. >> that is true and they note president obama campaigned on upper income americans paying more so they intend to make sure that happens. the house democratic leader says the only obstacle is republicans refusing to ask the top 2% to pay more. >> this is a moment of truth. the clock is